The Ante-Room (Virago Modern Classics) [Paperback]

Kate O'Brien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2006 | Series: Virago Modern Classics (Book 325)

It is the Eve of All Saints, 1880, and Teresa Mulqueen lies dying. Her family gathers round her, and beneath this sad scene another drama, no less poignant, unfolds. In this house of stillness and shadow, her daughter Agnes anxiously awaits the return of her sister Rose-Marie and brother-in-law Vincent. Agnes adores her sister, but secretly, passionately loves Vincent—and she knows their marriage is foundering. Ahead lies a terrible battle between her uncompromising religious faith and the intensity of her love.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

O'Brien's soap opera-ish novel dates back to 1934. In the shadow of her mother's impending death, Agnes awaits the arrival of her sister and brother-in-law. Generally this would bring comfort, but the twist is that Agnes is secretly in love with the man and knows the marriage is on the rocks. Will she take advantage of the opportunity?
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'A grave and beautiful story, exquisitely composed and cut to a jewel-like fineness' DAILY TELEGRAPH *'A gem of a novel' TAMSIN HARGREAVES

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Virago UK (July 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844083179
• ISBN-13: 978-1844083176
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #638,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three intense days in the life of an Irish family, March 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Ante-Room (Virago Modern Classics) (Paperback)

I couldn't put it down! The book describes three days in an Irish household. Very atmospheric, and yet the writing is so easy and natural to read. There is unrequited love, and almost every other emotion it is possible to think of. Highly recomended

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Relentless, depressing, fascinating, May 23, 2001

By 

Robert H. Nunnally Jr. "gurdonark" (Allen, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ante-Room (Virago Modern Classics) (Paperback)

Kate O'Brien's parlor-set piece about a 19th Century Irish family at the time of the lingering death of the family's mother is spare and relentless. The author evokes through a series of character foils the conflicts between the 19th Century Irish Catholic milieu in which the characters exist and the very real and human passions that they develop at odds with their circumstances. The narrative voice is sympathetic, yet quick to point up the character flaws in each of the family members portrayed in this novel filled with misplaced passions and passionless near misses. Although this is a short novel, it is not a quick read. It instead is a patient, quiet, well-constructed but not particularly novel portrayal of the contrasts between life as we imagine it and life as it really is lived. I recommend the Ante-Room, but it is not for the impatient or faint of heart.

3.0 out of 5 stars Very depressing, October 16, 2010

By 

K. Huff (Radnor, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ante-Room (Virago Modern Classics) (Paperback)

The Ante-Room is set over the course of just a few days in 1880. Agnes Mulqueen lives with her father, brother, and mother, who is dying from cancer. When Agnes's older sister Marie-Rose arrives for a visit, she brings her husband, Vincent, along with her--and Agnes must deal with the feelings she has for her brother-in-law.

This is another one of those books I really wanted to like. But because the characters spend so much time waiting, the novel drags a lot, especially towards the middle. Agnes's struggle--her love her Vincent versus her extremely strong faith--could be interesting, but I just found it dull after a while. I found myself wishing that Agnes would just grow herself a backbone, since she allows people to walk all over her. Actually, none of the characters are particularly likeable, except maybe poor Dr. Curran, who actually seems like a decent guy. Even Teresa Mulqueen, who I'd normally feel sorry for, isn't all that sympathetic. But the author is a gifted writer, and she touches on her characters struggles with a great amount of compassion. Since I like Kate O'Brien's prose style, I'll read more books by her.